Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Matthew McConaughey | ... | Ron Woodroof | |
Jennifer Garner | ... | Eve | |
Jared Leto | ... | Rayon | |
Denis O'Hare | ... | Dr. Sevard | |
Steve Zahn | ... | Tucker | |
Michael O'Neill | ... | Richard Barkley | |
Dallas Roberts | ... | David Wayne | |
Griffin Dunne | ... | Dr. Vass | |
Kevin Rankin | ... | T.J. | |
Donna Duplantier | ... | Nurse Frazin | |
Deneen Tyler | ... | Denise (as Deneen D. Tyler) | |
J.D. Evermore | ... | Clint | |
Ian Casselberry | ... | Hispanic Orderly | |
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Noelle Wilcox | ... | Kelly |
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Bradford Cox | ... | Sunny |
Dallas 1985. Electrician and sometimes rodeo bull rider Ron Woodroof lives hard, which includes heavy smoking, drinking, drug use (primarily cocaine) and casual sex. He is racist and homophobic. While in the hospital on a work related injury, the doctors discover and inform him that he is HIV+, and that he will most-likely die within thirty days. Ron is initially in angry denial that he would have a disease that only "faggots" have, but upon quick reflection comes to the realization that the diagnosis is probably true. He begins to read whatever research is available about the disease, which at this time seems to be most effectively treated by the drug AZT. AZT, however, is only in the clinical trials stage within the US. Incredulous that he, as a dying man, cannot pay for any drug which may save or at least prolong his life, he goes searching for it by whatever means possible. It eventually leads him to Mexico and a "Dr." Vass, an American physician whose license was revoked in the ... Written by Huggo
Much has already been written about Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto's astonishing transformations, and brilliant performances. Solid and true, yes. They both deserve enormous accolades, Golden Globe and AMPAS-worthy, for these transformations and the effort of their craft. But I think the true heroes of this project are the Producers who took a chance on such dicey subject matter. Some reviews hail the project as "A Crowd Pleaser," and yet, you realise, these are TRULY marginal characters, and not entirely likable, as some have already said, in an Era (1970s-1980s early AIDS crisis) that is nearly forgotten in this age of HIV exposure-as-a-managed-care-condition, rather than a death sentence, as it was between 1979-1995. As much as this could be a feel-good film for the discovery and pioneer of protease inhibitor cocktails, it is a compelling character study of a time of crisis that has not been well-captured or documented adequately in quite some time. BRAVO to the Producers of this movie for giving this project the Greenlight, because the sexually-active youth of today would never know the Plague and tragedy that preceded their coming-of-age without a reminder like this.